Peer Support Specialist

PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Access to Resources and Community Supports (ARCS)

One (1) Bargaining Unit Position, Permanent Full-Time 

Existing Vacancy

Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

Compensation:  $22.44 

About Cota

If you’re looking to contribute your expertise at a community-based organization making a positive impact in the lives of thousands of people each year – Cota would love to hear from you!

We provide a collaborative and inclusive work environment that emphasizes employee support, learning opportunities and excellence in our field. We offer flexible hours and employer-paid benefits for some classifications along with other perks and wellness activities.

For 50 years, Cota has been supporting adults with mental health and cognitive challenges to live well within their community. We provide person-centred support to help individuals find inspiration and hope in themselves, so they are better able to pursue meaningful change in their lives.

To find out more about us and our programs/services and employee benefits please visit our website!

Role Overview

The Peer Support Specialist works collaboratively with the team. The Peer Support Specialist provides recovery-oriented services consistent with Cota’s Mission, Vision and Values.

 About the Team

ARCS is a hospital diversion program in partnership with North York General Hospital and Humber River Health. The objective of this program is to reduce emergency department visits, by providing short term, community based case management services to individuals that had recently visited the emergency department for mental health and/or addiction matters.

The ARCS team is interdisciplinary, consisting of Mental Health Case Managers, Addictions Specialist Case Managers, a Peer Support Specialist, and an Intake Case Manager. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide recovery oriented support through lived experience of mental health and/or addiction challenges.
• Work collaboratively with individuals and the team to support recovery and goal plans.
• Teach, coach and provide assertive outreach to individuals.
• Support individuals to live independently in the community as they consider and determine their own unique goals and objectives.
• Provide recovery-oriented and/or harm reduction based services in a manner consistent with Cota’s Mission, Vision and Values.
• Facilitate various groups: WRAP, social recreational, educational and/or life skills groups.
• Provide informal counselling, emotional support, group support services, linkage with community resources, and instruction in life skills to service recipients.
• Assist and support service recipients with household management, personal care, routine daily living activities, social recreation, employment and vocational goals.
• Provide lived experience to program development and implementation and build collaborative working relationships with members of the multi-disciplinary team and community agencies as applicable.
• Promote independence through teaching, emotional support, coaching, and mentoring.
• Document interactions that meet Cota’s documentation requirements.
• Attends Peer Support Community of Practice (CoP) meetings with other Peer Support Specialists and contributes in a constructive and supportive manner.
• Undertakes other related and/or delegated duties as may be assigned/required.

 The Successful candidate requires:

• Consistent employment OR volunteer work OR training in the past 6-12 months.
• A minimum of High School Diploma.
• Experience providing peer support to people with lived experience.
• Completion of Peer Support training ( asset).
• Completion of Recovery-oriented training such as WRAP, or Pathways to Recovery (asset).
• Personal experience in recovery from a mental health and addiction challenges.
• Experience in applying harm-reduction principles, providing support from an anti-racist anti-oppression framework and/or providing trauma-informed peer support.
• Experience facilitating groups (asset).
• Able to work in partnership and relate to people with lived mental health and justice experience from a peer perspective.
• Able to problem solve, be flexible and make recommendations to resolve issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge and ability to effectively manage personal mental health issues.
• Demonstrate self-awareness of their recovery journey and purposeful self-disclosure.
• Knowledge of peer initiatives, goals and resources.
• Knowledge of Recovery and Psychosocial Rehabilitation as guiding principles.
• Knowledge of the Ontario Mental Health Act, the Substitute Decisions Act, and the Health Care Consent Act and PHIPPA (asset).
• Ability to prioritize needs and organize work efficiently.
• Computer efficient (MS Word, E-mail, Internet).
• Strong de-escalation and crisis management skills.
• Ability to engage in participant interactions, which negotiate complex boundaries of self-disclosure and appropriate working relationship.
• Ability to work well in a stress elevated environment.

Other Requirements and Working Conditions 

• Conduct visits in the service recipient’s homes, hostels, hospitals and other community settings, as applicable.
• Must have access to vehicle.  (Please note that access to a vehicle means owning, borrowing, renting the vehicle. Alternatively, using ride services, such as, Uber, cab, and taxies at no cost to Cota).

Cota’s Values & Commitment

Cota’s core values of Hope, Respect, Dedication, Equity, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation are at centre of who we are and what we do.

As an equal opportunity employer, we remain dedicated to sustaining an experienced workforce that reflects Cota’s commitment to recognising everyone’s contributions, respect of everyone’s dignity, unique experience and potentials.

Cota will not condone or tolerate any acts of discrimination or harassment under any of the grounds protected under human rights legislation. This commitment extends to the hiring process and throughout the course of employment.

Cota’s Diversity Statement

Cota remains respectful of all protected 7rights in line with the grounds laid out by the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC). Cota is also strongly committed to diversity and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

As part of our hiring process, you may be asked to complete demographic survey. This survey is voluntary and any information provided shall remain anonymous and confidential, only being used for the purpose of workforce reporting.

Cota’s Accessibility Statement

Cota is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our entire hiring process as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. For any recruitment related accommodation needs and/or requests please contact the HR Department via email to hr_recruitment@cotainspires.ca

Additional Information:

Interview Process: Cota may choose to conduct parts/all of the hiring process virtually. Please note that as part of maintaining an agile workforce, all Cota staff may be required to be reasonably reassigned to support the operational needs of our essential services.

Scent Free: Cota encourages a scent-free environment. Any staff or visitor attending any of our sites should please refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.) 

We would like to thank all those that apply; however, due to high volumes of interests, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Thank you, Cota’s HR Department.

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